But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
The charge belongs to the message Christ came from heaven to give on the Isle of Patmos to show what would be in the last days, recorded in the first, second, and third chapters of Revelation and directed here to Thyatira. It is spoken to those in Thyatira and the rest there who have not accepted the false doctrine and have not known the depths of Satan, laying on them no other burden except to hold fast what they already have until Christ comes. The messages to the churches in Asia portray conditions in the religious world today, with the church names symbolic of the Christian church in different periods of the Christian era and the number seven indicating completeness so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force. They use symbolic figures for the state of God's professed people as wheat developing among tares with truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error.
Thyatira is shown as full of zeal, activity, and charity whose good is endangered by false teachers, and the same danger exists now when worldly plans, schemes, and interests absorb time and attention. The command means to hold firmly what is already possessed, to defend the position through trial and remain faithful until Christ comes while He still signals His coming. It is joined to the promise that the one who overcomes and keeps Christ's works to the end will be given power over the nations and will rule them with a rod of iron so they are broken like a potter's vessels, even as Christ received from His Father, and will be given the morning star, with the call for everyone who has an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The coming referred to is meeting the Lord in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, with the end of the world right upon us as proved by the foretold signs of Christ that many meet with indifference, so earnest preparation and continual heed in readiness to be taken away at a moment's notice without fear or distrust are required.
Holding fast is done by advancing and receiving the grace of God so its effect saves day by day, with grace as the price of watchfulness and with prayer in faith bringing rich and precious blessing to every soul through the gift of the Holy Spirit. All is accomplished by His grace as cause for thankfulness to the heavenly Father, waking up singing praise, and sending back to heaven a committed answer to hold fast, to hold the fort till Jesus comes. Heeding the verse involves heeding the message of Revelation 2 and understanding what losing first love means by seeking the Lord with all the heart, respecting those who have borne the burden in the heat of the day, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, and humbling the heart before God so He can safely work with and for His people and truth prospers and goes forth as a burning lamp. This charge must now be understood and used as designed, with prayer for wisdom not to have a name to live while dead, with close and critical study of the book of Revelation, and with wakefulness to see and speak intelligently about what is to be in this last remnant of time.
As waiting Advent believers remained faithful through opposition in waiting, praying, and continuing in Advent faith until light from the heavenly sanctuary clarified their position, so now workers are to come into line with the progressive work Christ the true Watchman outlines to be established in many places, comprehend it, and not be content to let the work of the third angel's message languish. That labor is to be aroused and marked with far greater earnestness, diligence, faith, and self-sacrifice under the Lord who keeps His church every moment night and day and makes a little one become a thousand.
The charge belongs to the message Christ came from heaven to give on the Isle of Patmos to show what would be in the last days, recorded in the first, second, and third chapters of Revelation and directed here to Thyatira. It is spoken to those in Thyatira and the rest there who have not accepted the false doctrine and have not known the depths of Satan, laying on them no other burden except to hold fast what they already have until Christ comes. The messages to the churches in Asia portray conditions in the religious world today, with the church names symbolic of the Christian church in different periods of the Christian era and the number seven indicating completeness so the messages extend to the end of time and are in force. They use symbolic figures for the state of God's professed people as wheat developing among tares with truth standing on its own eternal basis in contrast with error.
Thyatira is shown as full of zeal, activity, and charity whose good is endangered by false teachers, and the same danger exists now when worldly plans, schemes, and interests absorb time and attention. The command means to hold firmly what is already possessed, to defend the position through trial and remain faithful until Christ comes while He still signals His coming. It is joined to the promise that the one who overcomes and keeps Christ's works to the end will be given power over the nations and will rule them with a rod of iron so they are broken like a potter's vessels, even as Christ received from His Father, and will be given the morning star, with the call for everyone who has an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The coming referred to is meeting the Lord in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, with the end of the world right upon us as proved by the foretold signs of Christ that many meet with indifference, so earnest preparation and continual heed in readiness to be taken away at a moment's notice without fear or distrust are required.
Holding fast is done by advancing and receiving the grace of God so its effect saves day by day, with grace as the price of watchfulness and with prayer in faith bringing rich and precious blessing to every soul through the gift of the Holy Spirit. All is accomplished by His grace as cause for thankfulness to the heavenly Father, waking up singing praise, and sending back to heaven a committed answer to hold fast, to hold the fort till Jesus comes. Heeding the verse involves heeding the message of Revelation 2 and understanding what losing first love means by seeking the Lord with all the heart, respecting those who have borne the burden in the heat of the day, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, and humbling the heart before God so He can safely work with and for His people and truth prospers and goes forth as a burning lamp. This charge must now be understood and used as designed, with prayer for wisdom not to have a name to live while dead, with close and critical study of the book of Revelation, and with wakefulness to see and speak intelligently about what is to be in this last remnant of time.
As waiting Advent believers remained faithful through opposition in waiting, praying, and continuing in Advent faith until light from the heavenly sanctuary clarified their position, so now workers are to come into line with the progressive work Christ the true Watchman outlines to be established in many places, comprehend it, and not be content to let the work of the third angel's message languish. That labor is to be aroused and marked with far greater earnestness, diligence, faith, and self-sacrifice under the Lord who keeps His church every moment night and day and makes a little one become a thousand.